INTRODUCTION
Islam is the religion of peace. It is the best religion among all because it is chosen by Allah for mankind so that they can succeed in this life and the life hereafter. Since its arrival about 1400 years ago till now, Islam has faced numerous challenges, due to the courage and level of takwah gifted by Allah Almighty to those Muslims who act upon Islam and its teachings. Islam and Muslims have been able to get out of those challenges. In this modern era, the Muslim world faces many challenges. In this blog, I will discuss about six major challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah in this modern era.
1) Sectarian Violence
Since the early period of Islam, there have been multiple sects in Islam. In the beginning, the clashes among them were not as violent as they are now.
They were very tolerant of each other in the beginning but now the rift between them has increased significantly. Sectarian Violence has engulfed countries such as, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and, to some extent, Pakistan as well. Muslim clerics of different sects in these countries and of countries like India and Bangladesh call each other disbelievers. It is haram in Islam for Muslims to divide themselves into different sects. It has also been narrated in the Quran.
2) Terrorism
Muslims have suffered from terrorism the most and are still suffering, and, ironically, the blame for terrorism all around the world is put on Islam, which is not true because Islam promotes peace and harmony. Although many terrorist organizations like the Al Qaeda and ISIS, etc. kill people in the name of Islam, Islam doesn’t teach Muslims to kill innocent people. It’s another irony that most of the people affected or killed by these terrorist groups are also Muslims. Muslims have tried to distance themselves from all terrorist attacks that have occurred all around the globe and all those terrorist organizations that kill innocent people in the name of Islam, but still, Islam and Muslims are blamed for it, which is wrong because Muslims are also suffering from terrorism.
3) Lack of Central Political authority
Since the abolishment of Khilafah a century ago. In the last 100 years, Muslims of Kosovo, Kashmir, Palestine, East Turkistan in Western China, the Middle East and North Africa have faced a lot of persecution and cruelties. There hasn’t been any central political authority that could unite Muslims from all sects and nationalities. Although there were some problems as well associated with the Khilafah at least it was successful in uniting Muslims under a single political authority. It was also successful to an extent in saving Muslims from the injustices that they are facing today. Muslims need a central political authority, just like the European Union, that could unite Muslims of all sects and nationalities. Yes, there is OIC, but it is of no use. Till now it hasn’t been able to unite Muslims. It hasn’t been able to save the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya and Syria from NATO invasions and neo-colorizations. It hasn’t been able to save Kashmiris, Muslims of Kosovo Muslims of Xinjiang in Western China and Palestinians from the level of persecution that they are facing today. We need a central political authority just like the EU that can fight for our rights, unite us through a banner, and, therefore, promote the Islamic democratic system in Muslim countries.
4) Widespread Poverty
Although many countries in the Gulf are not only quite rich but influential as well,t on the other hand,d there are also Muslim countries whose people are so poor that they can not even afford to eat 2 meals a day. Rich Muslim countries should help them because Every Muslim is a brother to one another. This is a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW. There should also be a central bank for Muslims like in Europe, and it should have its own currency and it should assist poor Muslim countries in getting financially strong. It should work under the Islamic financial system.
5) Islamophobia
It is another big issue faced by Muslims. Nationalist white people of the West make fun of Muslims and our Prophet and mock us as well in the name of freedom of speech. Muslims are often persecuted and looked down upon.
6) Lack of Education
Their is not only a lack of high-quality worldly education in many Muslim countries but also a lack of proper religious education as well. In countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh etc. Madrasas only focus on rot learning of the Quran and Hadith. They learn extremism in the name of Islam and don't learn the teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his companions. Those students who are learning them do not even know the meaning of what they have learnt, so what’s the point of learning? They should also be taught worldly education. The students should be taught in a way that they should learn the meaning of what they are learning so they can know about the true essence of Islam and its teachings. Muslims need to bring back the old education system in which Madrasah students were taught the Quran and Hadith along with their correct meanings. They were also taught worldly education such as Science, literature etc. That old education system helped Muslim ummah dominate the world in the domains of Science, technology, politics, and economy. It gave us scientists like Jabir Bin Hayan, Bu Ali Sina, Ibn Firnas, Al Khwarzimi, Ibn al Haytham, Ibn Shatir, Al-Kindi etc. In the same way, students of schools, colleges, etc, should also be taught religious education in a proper manner. Students of both Madrasahs and Schools and colleges should all be equipped with modern-day skills because a Muslim should have good skills so that he earns on his own and doesn’t have to beg anyone except Allah. In countries like Türkiye, İran, Indonesia etc. Madrasahs focus on both religious and worldly education but this system should be present in other Muslim countries as well. Women should also be encouraged to acquire education. There is a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad SAW;
"It is the duty of every Muslim man and every Muslim woman to acquire knowledge."
This means both religious and worldly. It is the only way that they can succeed in this life and in the life hereafter.